All posts tagged: Branding Standards

A single truth for businesses everywhere, whether it’s realized or not: is that every company is a brand and every business owner is a marketer. Many consider themselves as simply salespeople representing a product or service, which is why – all too often – branding can be overlooked. Consciously or not, businesses are making branding decisions every day and it’s critically important to make these decisions with the overall company goals in mind. One Design, Multiple Goals In order to align with business goals, creative assets need to be developed around the overarching strategy that surrounds the needs of the company. Marketing goals should be determined, for both short and long-term achievements. Upon engaging in a design initiative, these goals should be explored in the initial stages of a project to ensure the right delivery methods. Market Analysis Whether it’s web design, logo, overall brand image or print collateral –…

In marketing and advertising, whether print or digital, no element is arguably more essential than imagery. With roughly 80 percent of consumers more likely to read a piece of content that contains colorful, relevant visuals – an integrated and aligning image strategy is a highly effective method for increasing market share. If a brand is not effectively using imagery as a part of an overall marketing strategy – they are missing out on revenues and valuable conversion opportunities. Marketing strategy encompasses a wide range of activities, but they all work together to produce brand image. The presence of a positive brand image is critical to the longevity of a business, and imagery is a powerful tool in forging this connection with the consumer and overall industry performance. Brand-centric and customized imagery – including illustrations, custom photography and carefully curated stock photography can boost a brand’s position and recognition in the…

Packaging design trends provide us with direct insight into what consumers feel, what problems they need to solve and what is coming next. Today, it’s all about connection, understanding and engagement. Designers are tasked with uncovering, realizing and articulating what is important to a consumer and to direct that experience. Through story, shape and structure, designers and brands can deliver the experience to make invaluable connections that last a lifetime. Brand Basic Gone are the days of generic or in house brands being a bad thing. House labels from brands like Amazon, Whole Foods, Target and Trader Joes – even luxury brands are emerging to focus on simplicity and clarity. A departure from the often headache inducing ‘world of choice’ that permeates store shelves, basic brands are the ‘unchoice’ making purchasing a straightforward affair. Heritage Nothing quite strikes a chord with consumers than a brand who has been around the block a time…

Many companies work on their brand as a strategy for marketing their products. However, many overlook the fact that it may just be as effective, if not more effective to work on the branding of their products. If you think about it, most of interaction you have with prospects revolve around the product. Consumers look at the logo, the packaging, the advertising, the reputation and of course brand promise. The reviews and the product design of the product before they buy. If that’s not a great opportunity to leave a lasting impression, what is? One of the great things about creating a brand around a product is that you have more liberty to experiment and be creative. There are a lot of restrictions to rebranding a company because being too creative or extreme can isolate an established group of customers and consumers. There is also an immense amount of equity…

So you’ve come to the conclusion that your brand presentation is looking outdated, that your website is far from engaging, and that your positioning strategy needs a change. If you’re seeking help from an agency for a brand refresh or a web redesign, you need to be able to ask the right questions and work with the agency in the right manner to get the maximum value you can possibly get. Here are some tips to follow whether you’ve started working with an agency already or you’re in the midst of talking to a couple of agencies. 1. Find Somebody with Experience in Your Industry While an agency can still deliver results without having worked for clients in the same industry you belong to, it will be advantageous to work with one with the experience. Their experience will really give you insight into what works and what doesn’t work so…

Does your corporate brand image need a change? Is your visual presentation out of date or do you need to change your position in the marketplace? If so, a corporate brand refresh may be in order. However, undergoing such a project is no small task. It will require an extensive strategy session, multiple design projects, and countless iterations. If you feel that you need a change now, it might be a more practical decision to make some quick immediate changes to feel it out. Here are five things that you can do for a quick jumpstart. 1. Come up with a new logo The most obvious thing to do start your corporate brand refresh is to come up with a new logo. Many business owners take this opportunity to come up with an entirely new logo. However, doing this may actually hurt you more than help you. The reason why…

One of the biggest challenges for startups is coming up with a way to generate new customers on a regular basis. While coming up with creative marketing strategies is the solution, limited budgets and lack of hired talent usually hinder efforts. That usually leaves the founders of the company and a small team to come up with a strategy that creates the best return on investment with the budget that’s available. There are several main points to focus on if this describes your situation. The first is branding. Branding is no longer defined by taking out expensive TV, print, radio and billboard ads to engrave your brand into your audience’s mind. Branding in the modern age is about creating a story and conversation that is rewarding enough for people to want to spread the word to their network. To prove a point, there are examples of startups creating a viral…

Many startups focus on marketing their innovative product or service and don’t focus enough on their brand. But as a new company, it’s important to put your branding on the forefront as it will allow you to properly position your company in a competitive marketplace while also giving you the momentum to scale the business. The first step of this process is starting with a brand design that speaks to the target audience. One of the challenges that startups have is trying to stand out in a sea of competition. Even with a unique product or service, it can be quite difficult to get people to notice that they are different from other companies. Branding can change this perspective in the target audience. While many new companies may have a clear brand strategy, they often do not have the proper presentation in place. For example, branding around unique features and…

The best marketers have always been the best storytellers. People want to find the best products and services to suit their needs, but more than anything, they want to be told a great story. How will this product change my life? In what ways will this service make me more efficient at my job and free up time to spend with my family? These questions can be answered through bullet points covering product and service features, but they are better answered through creative marketing that tells a story. One of the best ways to tell that story is through the use of engaging and descriptive visuals. At ArtVersion, we work hard to create a story for brands to tell that improves the engagement of their users and strengthens their businesses. Strong Visuals Equal A Strong Brand Some of the strongest brands in the world today have gotten there through strong…

A company is only so good as their brand. It is possible to have the best products and services in a market and to fail if the brand is not communicated to the customers. Having a powerful visual branding creates a competitive advantage that cannot be replicated in any other way. While it may not come to mind as the first or most important thing with regards to business success, graphic design plays a critical role in developing or re-establishing a powerful brand. First, we need to understand the power of a brand. Branding As Identity Branding is more than creating catchy slogans and images for ad campaigns. It is the purpose a company serves. Whether that purpose is in the fashion industry or something more benevolent, the branding is the first impression people will get of a company. Often, it is the only impression someone may get. A solid brand that…